MovieChat Forums > Feast (2014) Discussion > THIS won an Oscar for basically being a ...

THIS won an Oscar for basically being a food commercial??

posted 9 years ago by mikereilly_1999
8 replies | jump to latest

... unreal. I found this short almost completely devoid of plot and the moral seemed to actually be the opposite of what was intended ("Follow your heart" crap versus the much more realistic message of "Watch your caloric intake).

All this film was about seemed to be the dog constantly eating. And it was annoying watching him chomp and smack away on anything and everything for what seemed like 99% of the film. It was really more of a spaghetti and meatball commercial than anything else.

Overall, this piece reminded me of a girl I once knew who had serious problems with food addiction and lost control of her weight several times in her life. She ate when depressed, and hence ballooned up and remains so to this day, when she was once thin and attractive. But according to this whackadoodle film, shoving ten tons of food in your face on a daily basis is the way to go so long as it somehow leads to love. Or whatever.

Crazy, crazy world where pigging out and slurping up everything in sight in as annoying a away as possible wins awards!

[–] Unvoiced-Apollo 9 years ago

That's because you're in idiot that can apparently only take things at face value.

If you're happy and you know it, go sit in the corner and think about your life.

[–] mikereilly_1999 9 years ago

Sorry, but an "idiot" isn't defined as someone who has a different opinion from you, who thinks a disgusting pig-fest of a short film is dumb.

This is "Feast" in a nutshell:

Slurp chomp slurp gnaw chew chew slurp chomp nibble gulp slurp belch chew gnaw gobble Slurp chomp slurp gnaw chew chew slurp chomp nibble gulp slurp belch chew gnaw gobble Slurp chomp slurp gnaw chew chew slurp chomp nibble gulp slurp belch chew gnaw gobble Slurp chomp slurp gnaw chew chew slurp chomp nibble gulp slurp belch chew gnaw gobble...

But hey, if you're entertained by gluttony and the sight of a dog eating himself into an early grave, knock yourself out. Maybe someday if your IQ hits triple digits your horizons might expand.

[–] Unvoiced-Apollo 9 years ago

It's not that you disagree. It's that you took the movie at face value. It's not simply about eating. If you had an IQ above two digits, you might have understood that.

If you're happy and you know it, go sit in the corner and think about your life.

[–] mikereilly_1999 9 years ago

It certainly is that I disagree. Your panties are tied up in a knot over that fact. Deal with it, buttercup.

This short film is really why other countries see America as a bunch of gluttonous fatties, gorging themselves on crap all day long. This is a celebration of disgusting unhealthy habits (and don't even get me started on the fact feeding your dog all kinds of human junk food is a horrible example for kids). If the movie were really honest they'd have shown the amount of vomit and diarrhea produced by the dog following his nausea-provoking eating binges.

But oh, it's charming how you think it's a swell love story. Let me guess, kids movies are your main dealie-oh. In fact, something tells me that's pretty much the limit of your conversational capacity.

[–] Unvoiced-Apollo 9 years ago

No. It's not simply a love story either.

If you're happy and you know it, go sit in the corner and think about your life.

[–] mikereilly_1999 9 years ago

BTW I want to clarify I have nothing against the dog. I actually feel sorry for his undoubtedly severe gastrointestinal woes. And I suppose I do see the short as a love story; it's a parable for America's love affair with fatty food.

[–] davdav34 9 years ago

mikereilly_1999, I couldn't agree more with everything you said. Guess I'm an idiot as well 😀. I can't believe this won an Oscar...

[–] laurenmcmill 9 years ago

The food is an allegory for growing up.

When we're introduced to Winston as a puppy, he has nothing and is happy with licking ketchup off of a fast food wrapper. A young man probably fresh out of college takes the puppy home after sharing his meal. Now in his new home, Winston is overjoyed when presented with kibble.

As the owner does better for himself in his career and makes a little more money, both he and Winston eat "better," more expensive food. The owner's freedom as a single adult is represented with the variety of food available.

One day, as Winston and his owner enjoy yet another over-indulgent meal, the owner becomes enamored with the waitress. Owner and waitress start dating, and the owner attempts to improve his health with his new girlfriend. Winston, however, immediately detests these new healthy foods and even turns his nose up when presented with the kibble he loved as a pup. The "healthy" food here is a metaphor for settling down.

Owner and girlfriend break up and owner takes solace in comfort food again. This regression to unhealthy food can be compared to a bachelor "playing the field" again. Temporarily the novelty of new women is exciting, but after a while you feel pretty empty.

Upon seeing parsley garnishing a crappy meal from a take-out place, the owner is reminded of his now ex-girlfriend. Winston, realizing his owner's distress, seeks out the waitress to give her the garnish. Food doesn't matter now - he just wants his old, happy owner back.

After the owner and waitress ultimately tie the knot, Winston is finally happy with plain old kibble again. This can be a metaphor for finding comfort in a stable marriage or home life. As Winston comes to terms with his "boring" food, a lone meatball falls to the floor and we discover the now-married owners had a baby. Fast-forward to baby's first birthday with cupcakes and laughter, and suddenly food (aka life) is exciting again and meant to be savored.

So yeah, the food isn't meant to be taken literally.